Vikings expect Cordarrelle Patterson to be more involved vs. Bears

Touchbacks, Jerome Simpson's hot hand and a disjointed offense essentially rendered rookie wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson a non-factor during his NFL debut, which the Vikings vow to rectify in Sunday's game at Soldier Field.

Patterson's only touch on offense last week at Detroit was a 10-yard screen pass for a first down that helped set up Adrian Peterson's third rushing touchdown, but the first-round draft pick surprisingly played only five plays in the game.

"Cordarrelle will get more snaps during the course of (this) game," receivers coach George Stewart said of Sunday's matchup at Chicago. "He's our future. He's going to have more opportunities to make plays as we go forward."

Minnesota had only 19 offensive snaps the entire first half thanks to Peterson's 78-yard touchdown run on its first play from scrimmage and several sustained drives by the Lions. And Simpson proved invaluable to quarterback Christian Ponder, as the pair connected seven times for 140 yards, Simpson's most productive game in almost two years.

"The guy he was playing behind was hot," Stewart said of Patterson. "That's like Michael Jordan shooting threes. It's hard to replace that guy with a rookie."

Patterson wasn't the only playmaker who stagnated on the Vikings' sideline. Greg Jennings had only three receptions for 33 yards, and Pro Bowl tight end Kyle Rudolph was limited to two catches.

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"I'm just trying to get better every day, and when the opportunity comes, maybe I can show what I can bring to the table," Patterson said this week.

His patience also was tested in the kicking game, where the rookie had just two returns, for 54 yards, because the Lions' Sam Martin boomed five touchbacks.

"I had my little 'Don't be frustrated' talk ready and I didn't have to use it because he was locked in and he was ready to roll," Vikings special-teams coordinator Mike Priefer said. "He just knows that when he gets his opportunities he needs to be ready for them."

Patterson is not limited to playing two-receiver sets, so if the Vikings plan to spread out three or four receivers to challenge Chicago's defense, he should have more opportunities to be targeted.

The former Tennessee receiver is unproven, having played only one year of Division I football, but he is a high-value asset. The Vikings traded second-, third-, fourth- and seventh-round draft picks to the New England Patriots in April to re-enter the first round of the draft and nab Patterson with the 29th selection.

Stewart said Patterson is fully acclimated to the Vikings' playbook and that the rookie "has excellent football intelligence."

He just needs more chances to show it.

"Every young guy thinks this is college in some respects, that you're going to show up and be better. And some guys are better," Stewart. "He's working hard every day to rhythm up with the rest of the guys in the league. Obviously, he's a talent. He's going to help us win football games."